Principe sets Buffalo scoring record on game-winning kick, Bulls beat Kent State 9-6

Buffalo holds off Kent State 9-6

KENT, Ohio — A.J. Principe made a 22-yard field goal with 5 seconds left that sealed Buffalo’s 9-6 win over Kent State in the season finale for both teams on Friday.

Principe’s game-winning kick made him Buffalo’s all-time leading scorer with 224 points.

After Principe’s second 24-yard field goal put Buffalo up 6-3 in the fourth quarter, Kent State’s Dri Archer returned a kickoff 77 yards to the Buffalo 13-yard line. But the Buffalo (5-7, 3-5 Mid-American Conference) defense held the Golden Flashes (5-7, 4-4) to a game-tying, Freddy Cortez 26-yard field goal with 5:25 to play.

Buffalo then drove 63 yards in 5:16, setting up Principe’s winning kick.

Brandon Thermilus rushed for 123 yards for Buffalo.

The Bulls defense held Kent State to a season-low 159 offensive yards.

Cortez also kicked a 39-yard field goal for Kent State.